Iceland’s EU talks vote remains too close to call

Votes were being counted across Iceland late Sunday in a referendum on whether to restart membership negotiations with the European Union, mbl.is reported. The latest figures showed a narrow lead for the yes side, with 50.5 per cent supporting talks and 49.5 per cent opposed.

Results from the Reykjavík North constituency showed 16,457 votes, or 59 per cent, in favour and 11,413, or 41 per cent, against. The count included 143 blank and 112 invalid ballots.

In the South constituency, 9,001 voters, or 60.1 per cent, opposed restarting negotiations, while 5,964, or 39.9 per cent, supported the proposal. There were 65 blank and 46 invalid ballots among the 15,076 votes counted.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said it was too early to predict the result. She also said that much would happen over the next one to two days regardless of the outcome.

Environment, Energy and Climate Minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson said he was delighted with turnout and described the referendum as beneficial for Icelandic society. He said the result could go either way.